New Jersey DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Amendments to N.J.A.C. 6A:8 Standards and Assessments Monday, January 11, 2016

New Jersey DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Purpose of the Chapter and Proposed Amendments Purpose of the rules: The chapter implements the State standards and the Statewide assessment system to measure student achievement of the CCCS. Purposes of the proposed amendments: Revisions are needed to update the terms of the statewide assessment system to incorporate the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) assessments. Establish a three-phase transition for PARCC as a graduation requirement, replacing the comprehensive High School Proficiency Assessment (HSPA) to end-of-course assessments in English language arts (ELA) 10 and Algebra I as the Statewide assessment graduation requirement.

New Jersey DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Prior High School Assessment System: Class of 2015 and Before HSPA: High School Proficiency Assessment in Language Arts and Math AHSA: Alternative High School Assessment in targeted areas Portfolio Appeal Students in the class of 2015 had three opportunities to demonstrate competencies via HSPA. Based on their HSPA performance, students then took appropriate portions of AHSA. Based on their AHSA performance, districts submitted targeted portfolios to NJDOE. Students in the class of 2015 had three opportunities to demonstrate competencies via HSPA. Based on their HSPA performance, students then took appropriate portions of AHSA. Based on their AHSA performance, districts submitted targeted portfolios to NJDOE.

New Jersey DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION New Jersey High School Redesign Steering Committee (April 2008)  Steering Committee was established in 2006 to develop recommendations for improving New Jersey’s public high schools to ensure all students are ready to graduate for high school prepared for higher education and the workforce.  Recommendation: Align standards and graduation requirements to college and workforce entry requirements.  Recommendation: Implement an efficient and effective assessment system to measure student achievement gaps, provides data to address student learning and performance gaps, and align to expectations of higher education and the workforce.  Replace the HSPA with a series of end of course assessments that are aligned with the expectations of higher education and the workplace.  PARCC EOC assessments in ELA 9, 10, 11 and Algebra I, Algebra II and Geometry accomplish this goal.  Steering Committee was established in 2006 to develop recommendations for improving New Jersey’s public high schools to ensure all students are ready to graduate for high school prepared for higher education and the workforce.  Recommendation: Align standards and graduation requirements to college and workforce entry requirements.  Recommendation: Implement an efficient and effective assessment system to measure student achievement gaps, provides data to address student learning and performance gaps, and align to expectations of higher education and the workforce.  Replace the HSPA with a series of end of course assessments that are aligned with the expectations of higher education and the workplace.  PARCC EOC assessments in ELA 9, 10, 11 and Algebra I, Algebra II and Geometry accomplish this goal.

New Jersey DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Study Commission on the Use of Student Assessments (January 2016)  Established by Executive Order 159, the Study Commission was established to review and make recommendations regarding the quality and effectiveness of student assessments administered in NJ.  Recommendation 23 and 26: Continued use of PARCC  The Study Commission recognizes that Statewide standardized assessments are an important part of a comprehensive school improvement initiative and are necessary to provide equity in education and accountability for results. Based on information available at this time, the Study Commission recommends that the State of New Jersey continue its membership and participation in the PARCC consortium and annually administer the PARCC instrument as its Statewide assessment.  Recommendation 25: Waiver for ELA 11  The Study Commission recommends that the NJDOE provide opportunities for waiver requests for the PARCC English language arts 11 (ELA 11) test for students who participate in an assessment that provides information for college placement nationwide (e.g., International Baccalaureate, Advanced Placement).  Established by Executive Order 159, the Study Commission was established to review and make recommendations regarding the quality and effectiveness of student assessments administered in NJ.  Recommendation 23 and 26: Continued use of PARCC  The Study Commission recognizes that Statewide standardized assessments are an important part of a comprehensive school improvement initiative and are necessary to provide equity in education and accountability for results. Based on information available at this time, the Study Commission recommends that the State of New Jersey continue its membership and participation in the PARCC consortium and annually administer the PARCC instrument as its Statewide assessment.  Recommendation 25: Waiver for ELA 11  The Study Commission recommends that the NJDOE provide opportunities for waiver requests for the PARCC English language arts 11 (ELA 11) test for students who participate in an assessment that provides information for college placement nationwide (e.g., International Baccalaureate, Advanced Placement).

New Jersey DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Study Commission on the Use of Student Assessments (January 2016 ) (cont.)  Recommendation 47: Use of PARCC as Graduation Assessment  Three-phase transitional period for use of PARCC as a graduation assessment:  2016, 2017, 2018, 2019: PARCC EOC or identified alternatives  2020: students must take PARCC EOC assessments for which they are enrolled before accessing alternatives  2021: the first class to be required to satisfactorily pass the appropriate PARCC EOC assessments as a condition for high school graduation.  PARCC EOC Assessments in ELA 10 and Algebra I as State assessment requirements for graduation:  These courses appear to align best with the expectations of the knowledge and skills for graduation established in State statute.  Aligned to higher education and workforce entry requirements.  Recommendation 47: Use of PARCC as Graduation Assessment  Three-phase transitional period for use of PARCC as a graduation assessment:  2016, 2017, 2018, 2019: PARCC EOC or identified alternatives  2020: students must take PARCC EOC assessments for which they are enrolled before accessing alternatives  2021: the first class to be required to satisfactorily pass the appropriate PARCC EOC assessments as a condition for high school graduation.  PARCC EOC Assessments in ELA 10 and Algebra I as State assessment requirements for graduation:  These courses appear to align best with the expectations of the knowledge and skills for graduation established in State statute.  Aligned to higher education and workforce entry requirements.

New Jersey DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Phase I Graduation Requirements: Classes of 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019 (current 9 th - 12 th graders) PARCC PARCC EOC Algebra I and ELA 10 Substitute Assessments Any of the following: SAT, ACT/ACT PLAN, Accuplacer, ASVAB-AFQT, PSAT, ACT Aspire Another EOC PARCC assessment (ELA 9, ELA 11, Geometry, or Algebra II) Portfolio Appeal Submitted by the district on behalf of the student. Students in these classes have limited opportunities to participate in PARCC assessments and some may have already taken subjects tested by PARCC. As such, to meet graduation requirements, students are able to meet various scores on PARCC assessments, substitute assessments or via the portfolio appeal process. Students in these classes have limited opportunities to participate in PARCC assessments and some may have already taken subjects tested by PARCC. As such, to meet graduation requirements, students are able to meet various scores on PARCC assessments, substitute assessments or via the portfolio appeal process. PARCC PARCC EOC Algebra I and ELA 10 Substitute Assessments Any of the following: SAT, ACT/ACT PLAN, Accuplacer, ASVAB-AFQT, PSAT, ACT Aspire Another EOC PARCC assessment (ELA 9, ELA 11, Geometry, or Algebra II) Portfolio Appeal Submitted by the district on behalf of the student.

New Jersey DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Phase II Graduation Requirements: Class of 2020 (current 8 th graders)  Students in the class of 2020 are required to take PARCC assessments if they are in classes covered by PARCC content before they are eligible to utilize either the substitute assessments or the portfolio appeal. This requirement will become effective for the school year. PARCC PARCC EOC Algebra I and ELA 10 Substitute Assessments Any of the following: SAT, ACT/ACT PLAN, Accuplacer, ASVAB-AFQT, PSAT, ACT Aspire Another EOC PARCC assessment (ELA 9, ELA 11, Geometry, or Algebra II) Portfolio Appeal Submitted by the district on behalf of the student.

New Jersey DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Phase III Graduation Requirements: Class of 2021 (current 7 th graders) and Moving Forward  Students in the Class of 2021 and thereafter will be required to demonstrate mastery on PARCC ELA10 and Algebra I assessments. Multiple re-take opportunities will be present prior to the portfolio appeal process. PARCC PARCC EOC Algebra I and ELA 10 Portfolio Appeal Submitted by the district on behalf of the student.

New Jersey DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Continuation of Portfolio Appeals Process  The portfolio appeals process has been used by the Department as an alternative means to demonstrate graduation proficiency since  To ensure students who do not do well on standardized tests have an opportunity to demonstrate graduation proficiency through an alternative means, we propose continuing the portfolio appeals process through both the transition period, as well as after PARRCC becomes a graduation requirement.  Beginning this month, portfolio submissions will occur on rolling basis through May 13, This extended timeframe will ease the transition to the new graduation requirements and the anticipated number of appeals.

New Jersey DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Overview of Proposed Amendments Code ProvisionSubstantive Amendment 6A:8-1.3, DefinitionsUpdated terms to reflect new assessment system. 6A:8-4.1, Statewide AssessmentReplace former assessments with new assessment system. 6A:8-4.1(c)3i, Statewide AssessmentCreates a waiver from the district board of education from taking the high school end-of-course PARCC assessment in ELA 11 due to the student’s participation in another English language/literature college placement assessment during the same school year. 6A:8-5.1(a)6, Graduation Requirements Replaces HSPA with PARCC EOC assessment in ELA 10 and Algebra I as the graduation proficiency tests. 6A:8-5.1(f), Graduation Requirements Sets forth the alternative ways to demonstrate graduation proficiency during the transition period (Phases I and II). 6A:8-5.1(g), Graduation Requirements Sets forth the alternate way to demonstrate graduation proficiency for class of 2021 and thereafter (Phase III).

New Jersey DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Definitions: Amended to Reflect Change to New Assessment System Definition Deleted…Replaced With… Advanced Proficient/Partially Proficient Proficiency (under PARCC - not yet meeting, partially met, approaching, meeting, exceeding) AHSA (Alternative High School Assessment) Substitute Competency Test and Portfolio Appeals Process APA (Alternative Proficiency Assessment) alternative assessment for students with disabilities (currently the DLM) HSPA (High School Proficiency Assessment)PARCC end of course assessments in ELA 10 and Algebra I

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